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The Rise in Adaptive Clothing Lines is Pandering, but It's Still a Good Thing
How mainstream adaptive collections are improving the lives of disabled people.
In the past few years, the amount of adaptive clothing available on the market has increased dramatically. Not only are there more brands that solely produce adaptive clothing, but many mainstream brands like Cat & Jack, Tommy Hilfiger, and SKIMS are also releasing adaptive collections.
Additionally, adaptive clothing is being made available in stores like Target and J.C. Penny. Previously relegated to online exclusives, adaptive clothing could now be tried on in stores.
Many disabled and nondisabled people view these clothing lines as mere pandering, stating that huge brands like J.C. Penny and SKIMS don’t care about disabled people.
No, I don’t think brand owners like Kim Kardashian care about disabled people. Yes, I think it’s pandering. However, I still think it’s an overall positive thing for disabled people.
Two things can be true at the same time, so let’s explore why these lines benefit disabled people despite the motivations being less than authentic.
